A recent Newsday article, Taps Just A Button Away, struck a very sour note with this veteran.

The article details how, due to the shortage of military buglers, pre-recorded Taps is being "played" by a digital chip in a "bugle."

While obviously well-intentioned and certainly a preferred alternative to a boom box, the effort to provide a technologically-delivered "honor" via a pre-recorded "ersatz bugler" is in my view a disgrace. How shabby a send-off to those men and women veterans who deserve nothing short of the honor to which they are so rightfully entitled. What's next - sending cardboard cut-outs of Rambo, Chesty Puller and George C. Scott as Patton?

The general public, veterans' families and interested parties might like to know that there is indeed an alternative. "Bugles Across America," which can be found at www.buglesacrossamerica.org, is a non-profit group that provides volunteer buglers nationwide for those families wishing to honor veterans in the most dignified way.

Let's honor our veterans with honor and dignity.

Nicholas F. Mondello

(Ed's. note: The writer is a former Army bugler and honor guardsman who served proudly during the Vietnam era.)